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Notes on Vocabulary

The nominative case is used for the subject of the sentence (or any noun that is the equivalent of the subject).

NOTE: The nominative singular is unique in that it does not necessarily derive from the genitive stem as do the other cases, but may (particularly in the case of third declension nouns) be significantly different in form.

In this chapter, the following conventions will be used for nouns:

m. = masculine f. = feminine n. = neuter

• First and second declension substantives are given with at least the nominative case. (We will add the genitive singular as time permits. It is not strictly necessary, but you should get in the habit now of declining nouns based on the genitive stem and not the nominative. This chapter is therefore slightly misleading in this regard.)
• Third, fourth, and fifth declension substantives are given with the nominative and genitive singular.
• First/second declension adjectives must be given in all three gender suffixes: -us, -a, -um (masculine, feminine, and neuter). This is because description is not limited to a single gender. For example, being good is not a quality limited to a single gender. Boys can be good, girls can be good, and things can be good. So, since all three genders must apply, we don't label adjectives as particularly m., f., or n..
• Third declension adjectives are given with the nominative and genitive singular. This, however, is only true for third declension adjectives of one termination, so again this chapter is misleading in this regard.

Grammar Part 1: Overview of the Nominative Case

Nota bene: In the following examples the -us ending stands for the masculine (m.) gender, the -a for the feminine (f.) gender, and the -um stands for the neuter (n.) gender. So magnus is masculine, magna is feminine and magnum is neutral. Bona is an adjective describing a feminine substantive, such as puella. For example, bona puella means "good girl." Bonus is an adjective describing a masculine substantive, such as dominus. For example, bonus dominus means "good master." For more on adjectives, see Lesson 2.

Grammar: Pluralizing Nominatives

To pluralize most first and second declension nouns, replace the singular suffix with the equivalent plural suffix. All adjectives that describe the noun must be pluralized as well because adjectives must agree in case, number, and gender (but not necessarily declension). With the adjectives given, use first declension with feminine nouns and second declension with masculine nouns. In English we use the same nominative plural endings for words we have borrowed from Latin, so it may be helpful to remember we say one vertebr-a but two vertebr-ae, one radi-us but two radi-ī, and one medium but multi-medi-a.

A verb must agree in number with its subject.

Examples

Further Examples

Example 1

Notes: The adjective magnus -a -um must agree with triclīnium in gender, number, and case, so the correct form is magnum (neuter nominative singular).

Something like triclīnium magnus est, is incorrect because magnus does not agree with triclinium. To a Latin speaker, this would sound like nonsense. ("The dining room is a large man.")

Example 2

Notes: In the same way, the adjective magnus -a -um must agree with puella in gender, number, and case, so the correct form is magna (feminine nominative singular, a-declinatio).

Example 3

Notes: The adjective magnus -a -um here must agree with lūdus in gender, number, and case, so the correct form is magnus (masculine nominative singular).

Example 4

Notes: The adjective magnus -a -um in this case must agree with lūdī in gender, number, and case, so the correct form is magnī (masculine nominative plural).

Exercises

Exercise 1